Breed good for young families

[telemache]

Hi Everyone,

I've finally convinced my partner to let me get a dog. I've grown up with dogs all my life. I have a 10 month old baby so I am looking for a breed that tends to be gentle and patient with younger children.

I've previously had rescue dogs however with a young child we do not fit the criteria for our local rescues. What sort of breeds would be suitable?? Ideally we want a small or medium dog who doesn't need oodles of walls.

I honestly wouldn't recommend any dog with such a young child - you're going to have your hands full when your child reaches toddlerhood and you have an adolescent puppy on your hands!

Maybe re-look at things in a few years when your DC is older and has more understanding?

I know you said small to medium but I don't think you can beat a labrador with children, with the proviso I'd never leave a dog and young children alone together.

We’ve always had staffies. They’re great with kids.

We had labs (two). They grew up with the kids and we lost one at almost 13 very recently (and frankly the other won’t be far behind as she‘s nearly 14. Hands down I can say we have never had any issues (save the first puppy continually stealing 2yo dd2’s glasses and running round the garden like an absolute loon because it was such a great game - we basically just had to stop dd2 taking them off and putting them in puppy reach). It’s really hard on the kids to lose them now though.
We’re moving on to Welsh Springers, but labs are without a doubt perfect in every respect for a young family. In our experience, chocs age faster, and blacks are easier to train. Go for slightly more of a working line rather than show line for health if you can. (Might not be so much of an issue now. Our lab buying days were 13-14 years ago and we are only just saying goodbye. It’s been a privilege to see them through their full lifecycle )

Golden retrievers

I have had a Labrador and a pug/ jack Russell cross (jug). Tbh he looks like a border terrier. And the abuse that dog has taken - ears pulled, hair pulled, squashed and flattened , tail pulled. Dog is soo brilliant with the kids. Puts up with their nonsense. They are much older now but dog still puts up with their antics. I would say look it up do your homework and NEVER leave dog alone with baby. Not EVER. I have it on good authority that greyhounds are particularly good with kids. And whippets. They have great reports with kids. Happy hunting!

Labs/retrievers.. chocolate tend to be scattier than the golden or black, though they are all complete food thieves. I'm on my third female, grew up with a black, ds then grew up with a golden and now we're on black again, this one is the youngest we've gone and we've both noticed how much extra attention an under 2 yr old needs so do remember it might not be a good idea to have a toddler and an adolescent dog together

We've got a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Fantastic with the kids and so cuddly 😍

I'm in the exact same boat OP! Very interested to see what people recommend.

Food thieves indeed 😂 I can reel off veritable shopping lists of foodstuffs that have been disappeared, including an entire Stilton (from the centre of a giant cheeseboard prepared for a huge dinner party), artisan bread flour, apple turnovers, beef burgers hot from the barbecue placed on the ‘help yourself’ table (she did), gravy granules, a single whale shaped cookie that my dd made in her first every cookery lesson in school (at about six). Anything really.
Labs are amazeballs but Lock. Up. Your.Food. No foodstuffs under the Christmas tree!

Greyhounds are the most loving, gentlest souls who are massive couch potatoes! I've had quite a few different types of dogs growing up and greys are so calm and lovely. Honestly, read up on these dogs as they are usually so overlooked as people think they're either high maintenance or vicious due to seeing them muzzled

Another vote for a Lab, although they can be clumsy.
My boy wants to kiss every kid he meets ( it’s probably because they may be covered in food). Despite the fact that we don’t have small children, he absolutely adores them, smiles and wiggles his ass when he sees them. He makes a lot of pals in the park and he puts up with sudden hugs, ear pulling , kids hanging off his tail etc.
He’s pretty good with old ladies too 😍

Sure I've read sighthounds can become unhappy and anxious around young boisterous children as they are calm, sensitive dogs so crying children and screeching will have them on-edge.

The one we know is amazing with our DC but any noise and it slopes away, tail between legs looking to hide.

We’ve just got a miniature schnauzer and all or research said they were great with kids, and they are small/medium. Pic just because!

@Dreamersandwishers He shouldn't have to put up with these things and one day he may not. He makes a lot of pals in the park and he puts up with sudden hugs, ear pulling , kids hanging off his tail etc.

Almost any breed is suitable if its brought up right. I've always been brought up with dogs. My kids were brought up with dogs too from being babies. I think you need to choose a breed that fits in with your lifestyle and family. For example some dogs need more exercise than others. I have working dogs so I'm out everyday even in gailforce winds and hail which maybe would not suit you.
Some other dogs won't need as much exercise which with a young child may be more suitable. Do you have a big garden and fields to walk near to you. If you have a 10 month old you will most probably take a buggy so walking a larger breed whilst pushing a buggy is sometimes awkward. Some dogs for instance are hypoallergenic with their coat does anyone have allergies in the family. Some dogs shed more than others. Pick a dog that's suitable for your lifestyle and fits in with you , your home and your family.

I've got a 10 week old frenchie, he's great with the kids apart from usual puppy biting which I'm trying to train him out of atm. However they're not cheap to keep, my pet insurance is £58 pm and they can have a lot of health issues however they're quite lazy and not ones for going for walks but I've obviously not taken mine for any yet.

I've also had two staffs and a pug with my kids and they're all brilliant with them so I could recommend any of these dogs.

I wouldn’t have any dog with a child under 4 quite honestly.

My dog was here before my two youngest came, she is such a sweet, gentle, loving soul with children and was really beautiful with both as babies, always wanting to sleep cuddled up next to them 🥰

But despite that, if I had my time again I wouldn’t have bought her until my youngest was at least 4 because they are very noisy, the tantrums/screaming and crying can be really upsetting for dogs, they can be really over excitable which then over excites the dog, they are rough, have no concept of respecting personal space, can be violent, I just think the stress really isn’t worth it.

We would love a dog but I have a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old and am under no illusion that we won’t be getting on until the 2 yr old is probably at least 5 if not older.

They are just too young at that age.

I have a 7 and 10 year old and the puppy biting phase has been challenging even with them. I can't imagine doing it with a baby. We have a terrier however so I guess it was to be more expected. I'll
Probably get flamed but my sisters cockapoos were a lot calmer in that respect. They are also very light so don't knock small children down if they run past them etc. Dpup is small but like a torpedo so you have to be on your guard!

Thanks for the advice everyone (and pictures ). I think I'll wait a year or two and then look into getting a lab!

We have a mini schnauzer too. She arrived when the kids were 8 and 10 and we all love her dearly. She's very affectionate, happy to be cuddled and fussed and played with. I reckon I could get away with a half hour walk a day, though in practice she tends to get an hour's 'proper' walk and then often a mosey around the block in the afternoon. She's won over even some of the kids' friends who are scared of dogs, and my FIL who thoroughly dislikes dogs after a lifetime of getting bitten on housecalls in his job.
I love labs too though and they make excellent family dogs.

We have a miniature poodle. He's perfect!

I waited till my youngest was at school to get a dog ,so I could give it all the time it needed training wise
That went well ,because I didn’t want to mix a dog with a baby
Anyway ,by the time the dog was 2 ,I was pregnant,so did have to mix dog and baby after all.
We used stair gates on all rooms and stairs ,so dog and baby never left alone together.
It did help that dog was a super chilled whippet ,who’s grandfather won crufts Late 1990s😊